GODAI In Combat - REAL World applications and examples

The technique we use here is the right hand KO punch, but in four different examples, each a manifestation of an element of the Godai.

Each scenario presented here is a real situation I have faced in my career.
There is NO THEORY here - each example is 100% REAL!


Earth
Standing on the door you are Earth, the mountain, the oak tree, immovable. You tell a customer he can't come in. You are strong and confident. Nobody is getting past you. You ARE the Door!

The customer gets angry and steps up to attack. From The Fence you land your KO punch to his jaw and knock him out. You have no need to be afraid or angry, you have no need to attack or defend. You simply apply the correct response for the situation at hand.


Fire
The alarm goes and you rush inside to see a full blown fight has erupted on the dance floor.

You move straight in and knock out each man who is fighting. If they are not trying to get away they are trying to get stuck in, so you neutralise them. One, two, three, you crack your KO punch to their jaw and they drop to the floor. You are Fire, an unstoppable force of nature.

Water
One of the other doormen goes to deal with a customer, to ask him to leave. Suddenly CRACK! The doorman goes down. This is no ordinary customer but a dangerous, trained, experienced fighter. As you move in he squares up to you. You are now in a fight with a skilled opponent.

You react, you defend and you counter. You nullify his attacking blows and set up your opportunity to land your KO, taking him out of the game.


Wind
A drunk customer is being rowdy and it is time to ask him to leave. You can't allow him to hurt another customer, yourself, or a member of your team, but you can't allow him to hurt himself either. Nor is it appropriate to go in with maximum force, maybe breaking his jaw or arm.

You do your best to avoid a violent solution. The drunk swings at you. You parry his first swing, and maybe his second. But when he swings a third time you use the Captain's Log to parry down his attack and then land your KO. You gave him every chance.

To take this analogy further, rather than the punch, from the Log use ikkyo to take him to the floor and restrain him. Then call another doorman to take his other arm and walk him out together so nobody needs to get hurt.

So you see the KO punch, which theoretically is a Fire technique, can be used as a technique by any of the four elements you are manifesting, as the situation demands.

DO NOT restrict yourself to any element, art, or technique or you are destined to fail.

Had I decided to be a "Fire" doorman I would not have prevailed in the other 3 situations presented. I certainly would not have done the job for 10 years and would probably be in prison for GBH or Manslaughter right now.

Sometimes it is appropraite to be Fire.

Sometimes you need to be Wind or Water.

Most times you just need to be Earth.

GODAI in Combat

Although I have used the Godai analogy to describe the 4 AFA that makes up STMA, it is also true that each Art can manifest the 4 elements.

Each element is a manifestation of your inner feeling:

Earth - confidence
Water - fear
Fire - Anger
Wind - compassion

The physical postures, called kamae, and movements are manifestations of these feelings in combat.

It is a MISTAKE to believe you can select to be one element and fight that way as you need to adapt and respond as the need arises. The only element you should try to be is Ku - The Void.

Let's look at an example of a specific AFA using the 4 elements.

Eskrima - though we classed Kobudo as the wind element of STMA, fighting with a weapon can use any of the 4 elements.

In a weapon attack the opponent comes in with a #1 strike, the caveman strike, the natural strike of the Human animal.
Let's see how you respond:

Water - you defend. You roll back into largo, removing yourself from the path of attack and strike at his hand to make him drop his weapon. You can then respond with a counter to his head once he has been "defanged".

Fire - you attack. You crash the line with a roof block, burning through his attack and taking his head off with a powerful strike of your own.

Earth - you intercept. As he steps in with his stick in caveman chamber you step forward to meet his intention and deliver your strike on the half beat. You neither attack or defend, you just use the appropriate move with proper distance and timing. This is based on the confidence that you were never in any real danger.

Wind - you evade. Moving with triangle footwork you sidestep and attack his hand. Unlike Water, you are not retreating and being defensive, you simply move sideways and he strikes empty air. Then your own strike hits like lightning.

Ranges of Combat

7 weapons rangesOutrange, weapons range, largo, medio, corto, grappling, ground

We start our kobudo training with single stick, so base our range system on that.

Ranges in kobudo start from the outrange, the pre-contact phase.

Then there is weapons range where the stick can hit each other.

Then there is largo where we can hit the hand.

Then there is medio where the stick reaches him, we can check his weapon hand with our alive hand, and our kix can reach him.

Corto is close range where we can hit with the punch, the punyo - butt of the stick, our punches and our HKE. It is the range of stick locks.

Grappling range is body-to-body where we use the stick chokes and throws.

Ground range is when the fight goes to the ground.

The weapons range and largo range extend out to sword range and spear range for the longer weapons.


6 ranges of unarmed combat

Outrange, kick, punch, trap, grappling, ground

Range in Kickboxing starts from the outrange.

Then we get kick range, then punch range, which are self explanatory.

Corto for KB would be the range of hooks and uppercuts in boxing, knee and elbow in Thai.

Boxing of course has no kick range.

A TKD fighter would be like a largo mano fighter, staying at long range throwing big kicks.

A karate fighter would use kicks and punch ranges then come out. They would not court corto range.

A kickboxer would be comfortable in corto, using hooks and uppercuts, and Thai fighters love to get in and use the knee.

Wing Chun fighters stay pretty much at corto. They enter quickly through kick and punch range, avoiding the whole kickboxing phase so theycan employ traps and close range blasts.

A grappler ingores kick, punch and trap ranges and starts with a collar/elbow tie up from which he looks for throws.

It can be argued that the tie up is corto and the uchikomi is the entry to grappling range.

Martial Arts Self Defence Croydon

The British Shiro Tora White Tiger Martial Arts is based at the Hombu in South Croydon.

Our system is currently taught to Police Officers, Door Supervisors,

Prison Officers and Security personnel.

Our Head Instructor is a 7th degree Black Belt with over 30 years experience.



 Tuesday 8.15pm to 10pm



http://www.shirotora.co.uk

These classes are for all levels, beginner to advanced.

If you want to learn to fight – come to see us!

 

Shiro Tora South Croydon Martial Arts

Our Head instructor holds the ranks
7th degree Black Belt in Karate
5th degree black belt in Kempo Jujutsu
5th degree black belt in Ninpo Taijutsu

Which form the core of our Unarmed Combat Street Self Defence system

We also incorporate trapping and Chi Sao sparring from Wing Chun Kung Fu
and the Unarmed phase of Kali

Our classes also include

Kickboxing

Impact and pads, partner drills and sparring from

Karate, Muay Thai, savate and boxing

Weapons

Kali escrima sticks and knives
Krabi krabong double swords and spear
Kobudo okinawan Tonfa and Bo, Japanese sword and Jo

Grappling

Throws from judo
Projections from aikido
Sweeps from karate
Takedowns from jujutsu

Ground fighting

Comprehensive progressive drilling in ground combatives done on mats, carpet, hard wood and grass

STMA Grass Day Spring 2019

STMA Grass Day Spring 2019 will be revisiting the 2013 lessons of 6 years ago.

Open to beginners and Advanced Black Belts.

https://whitetigermartialarts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/stma-grass-day-early-spring-2013.html

STMA Grass Day Spring 2018

STMA Grass Day Spring 2018 will be revisiting the 2013 lessons of 5 years ago.

Open to beginners and Advanced Black Belts.

https://whitetigermartialarts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/stma-grass-day-early-spring-2013.html

 

 

Weapons

Kali escrima sticks and knives
Krabi krabong double swords and spear
Kobudo okinawan Tonfa and Bo, Japanese sword and Jo

 

 

 

Fun, Fitness and Self Defence

 

 



Our Head instructor holds the ranks
7th degree Black Belt in Karate
5th degree black belt in Kempo Jujutsu
5th degree black belt in Ninpo Taijutsu

Which form the core of our Unarmed Combat Street Self Defence system

We also incorporate trapping and Chi Sao sparring from Wing Chun Kung Fu
and the Unarmed phase of Kali

Our classes also include

Kickboxing

Impact and pads, partner drills and sparring from

Karate, Muay Thai, savate and boxing

Weapons

Kali escrima sticks and knives
Krabi krabong double swords and spear
Kobudo okinawan Tonfa and Bo, Japanese sword and Jo

Grappling

Throws from judo
Projections from aikido
Sweeps from karate
Takedowns from jujutsu

Ground fighting

Comprehensive progressive drilling in ground combatives done on mats, carpet, hard wood and grass

Martial Arts Self Defence Caterham Surrey Croydon

The British Shiro Tora White Tiger Martial Arts Association is based at the Hombu in Caterham.

Our system is currently taught to Police Officers, Door Supervisors,

Prison Officers and Security personnel.

Our Head Instructor is a 7th degree Black Belt with over 30 years experience.

We currently run two public classes a week:

Monday 8pm to 10pm

Wednesday 8pm to 10pm.

http://www.shirotora.co.uk

These classes are for all levels, beginner to advanced.

If you want to learn to fight – come to see us!

The British Shiro Tora White Tiger Martial Arts Association - Caterham, Surrey, Croydon

Practical, Realistic and Effective Street Self Defence

Our system is currently taught to Police Officers, Door Supervisors,
Prison Officers and Security personnel


Learn from a 7th degree Black Belt with over 30 years experience


We currently run two public classes a week:


Monday 8pm to 10pm
Wednesday 8pm to 10pm

at the British STMA hombu dojo
Caterham, Surrey CR3 UK

£5 a session


These classes are for all levels, beginner to advanced

This is an adult class over 18s only
There is no junior class


Our curriculum includes training methods from the following Fighting Systems:


Street Fighting . Self Defence. Urban Combat . Threat Response
Kali . Eskrima . Stick. Knife . Empty hand
Krai Krabong. Muay Thai boxing
Kempo Karate . Kempo Jujutsu
Jun Fan . Wing Chun
Boxing . Savate Boxe Francais
Grappling . Wrestling . Judo . Jujutsu. Dumog
Ninpo TaiJutsu . Kobudo


For further information contact us by email


email: enquiries@ShiroTora.co.uk
website: www.ShiroTora.co.uk
blog: http://ShiroToraTiger.blogspot.com


If you want to get fit go to aerobics.
 If you want to get muscles go to the gym.
 If you want to get flexible go to yoga.
 If you want to learn to fight – come to see us!

Shiro Tora Martial Arts – Shiro Tora Budo Kai – White Tiger Martial Arts – Shiro-Tora Karate – Kempo – Jujutsu – Ninpo Taijutsu – Kali – Wing Chun – Boxing – Muay Thai – Savate – Unarmed Combat – Street Self Defence – Caterham, Croydon, Surrey – England, UK

Blitz Sport - Up to 75% off sale now on martial arts equipment and clothing

Triple Clicks

Recruiting new members this autumn

We are looking to recruit new members this autumn

Recruitment process:

A prospective member comes to watch on Monday...
they come try a class on Wed - they pay £5 fee for this
we give them a week to think about it
they come back next Monday to sign up

it costs £35 to sign up,
which includes the cost of gloves, stics and knife
that is their first lesson and is free

(we no longer do a free trial,
a prospect pays for the trial as it is a class and the first lesson,
the night they join, is free)

The new member must commit to training twice a week every week -
if they cannot make that commitment to us they cannot join -
we are not taking someone on who misses every other session

Women's Self Defence, Martial Arts and Kickboxing

At STMA Women who want to train in Martial Arts, Self Defence, Kickboxing, train alongside the men, NOT in a seperate class.

Ladies from Surrey, South Croydon and South London area interested in training, are all welcome to watch and try the classes in Shiro Tora....

Traditionally our dojos have always offered:

Ladies and womens classes in Self Defence
Ladies and womens classes in Martial Arts
Ladies and womens classes in Kickboxing
Ladies and womens classes in Muay Thai - Thai boxing
Ladies and womens classes in Wing Chun Kung Fu
Ladies and womens classes in Kali and Filipino Martial Arts
Ladies and womens classes in Self Protection and Rape Prevention

A lot of ladies join kickboxing classes to enjoy the sport and sparring. This is particularly good for women with a background in aerobics, dance, fitness, and those who have attended classes such as Body Combat.

A lot of women join Martial arts to learn traditional arts and earn their belts. We have several female members who have trained up to Black Belt and one female 2nd dan instructor.

A lot of ladies come to class interested in Self Defence and Self Protection, and the increasing need for Rape Defence training.

New syllabus for new members

Traditionally we started everyone with Kali, single stick, double stick

We will do single stick largo serrada until their own stix turn up as usual - however we will start them with the krabi drills ...
8 step
5 step
then sinawalli 2 and 4
then krabi single stick 8 step
then 6 count

they will also get to do krabi drill against boken and jo, giving them a much fuller stickfighting system earlier on, as well as encouraging them to get the longer weapons early

krabi also relates directly to muay thai so we can have them doing thai punching and kicking as well as knees and elbows very early, leaving the more complex boxing, savate and karate drills til later

apart from, of course, the most basic karate step drill, 10, 5, 3 and star, which they will learn quickly and practice regularly

we will also streamline the waza of kempo, CRA lox and chokes and newaza, so they work a techniques and learn it before moving onto the next one

The same applies to the kickboxing phase at the end, after learning the basic sets as padwork, then a partner drill, we progress them to sparring both boxing and kickboxing

Message to prospects (email)

Thank you for your enquiry.

Our dojo is based in Caterham CR3.

We do not advertise our address on the website as attendance is by appointment.

The way we do this is you come to watch a class then you try a class -

if we are what you are looking for, and you are a suitable candidate, then you are invited to join.

Training is then every Mon and Wed at 8pm and members are expected to attend both sessions every week.

We do not accept casual members, once a weekers, or walk ins,

All information you need is at the website.

As we are an equal opportunity organisation can you confirm

1. your gender male or female

2. your ethnic background (eg white UK)

3. if you have any disabilities

4. your age

5. if you have any martial arts experience and if you have attained any belts or grades

The 9 Schools of Ninjutsu

There are 9 schools, or ryuha to give them their Japanese name that are considered Ninja schools

1. TOGAKURE RYU NINPO
2. GYOKKO RYU KOSHIJUTSU
3. KOTO RYU KOPPOJUTSU
4. KUKI SHINDEN RYU HAPPO HIKEN
5. KUMOGAKURE RYU NINJUTSU
6. GIKAN RYU KOPPOJUTSU
7. SHINDEN FUDO RYU DAKENTAIJUTSU
8. GYOKIJSHIN RYU NINPO
9. TAKAGI YOSHIN RYU JUTAIJUTSU

only 3 of these are actually "ninjutsu" or ninpo in the truest sense

the other 6 were MAs practiced by Ninja clan that became complete schools - some are based on Kempo, some of Japanese JJ or Kenjutsu

What makes them Ninja is that they were used by the Ninja against the samurai, tactics preceding techniques as always

It is not necessary to go into any real depth with these schools early in your career, but they may be referred to in class

this is similar to how a shuto is done different in kempo to kyukushin karate to shotokan and why taijutsu's kiten ken is a unique technique not a variation on karate or kempo's shuto

Kukishinden Ryu Happo Hikenjutsu

Kuki shinden Ryu (Nine demons school)

Happo Hikenjutsu

Weapons
sword, spear, halberd, bo, hanbo,
jutte, tessen kusuri-kama

taijutsu

heiho
military strategy

Started as a battlefield art, techniques brought back by masters who survived to teach

The Bojutsu was devised in battle when the commander's spear broke and he used the staff to defeat the remaining enemy with the kuji kiri 9 cuts method

the Bo of Takagi yoshin ryu is taken from kukishinden

the taijutsu of kukishinden is based on takagi yoshin ryu

Bojutsu in the ryu holds elements of spear and halberd and is used in a deceptive manner

it is similar to other Jo schools of Japan, and differs from the Bojutsu of Okinawa, which is part of Karate and Kempo

shorter sticks include hanbo and tanbo - although there is a part of taijutsu that uses them as close range weapons, similar to a karate weapon


Kenjutsu in this ryu has a signature upward slash at angle 12

it also uses long and short swords, swords in pairs, throwing knife, and bo shuriken

Naginata - halberd - the ryu owes it's creation to the battlefield halberd and the broken halberd that started it's bojutsu

Hanbo - a similar origin in that a warrior's spear was cut in half so he used the half staff. Further developments of the hanbo come from the movements of the sword. It also has a section based on taijutsu kempo.

Spear - sojutsu - yari - a difficult weapon to use as it relies on distance and timing. Similar to the Wing Chun pole.

Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu

Gikan Ryu (Regard for justice school)

Koppojutsu

a bone breaking method with low stances and powerful First Rule strikes

Pairs with Koto Ryu as an early form of hard karate

It has the precept of Sentenashi, no first attack, meaning it is a self defence system

The founder of Gikan Ryu was a student of Gyokko Ryu and it is an adapted Kihon Happo that uses First Rule and bone breaking rather than Second Rule and kyusho pain strikes

eg a thai kick to the leg causes a dead leg, attacks the muscle, and drops the opponent - with the right training you could develop the power and focus to break the bone

eg ikkyo is an immobilisation and takedown - but could be developed to break the arm at the elbow

Based on KH this ryu uses distance to draw the opponent in and then destroys him with bone breaking strikes

If Gyokku Ryu resembles Shorin Ryu karate, this ryu and Koto Ryu resembles Shorei Ryu karate

Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu

Takagi Yoshin Ryu (Raise the heart to the high trees school)

JuTaiJutsu

This closely resembles Kempo Jujutsu, very much a grappling school with rapid strikes

The throws and chokes of Judo, and the locks and projections of aikido can be seen here - though in a battlefield form, not a mat form

Power and pressure - techniques are applied fast, close and in succession so the opponent has no chance to retreat or counter, breakfall, roll, or escape

Unlike battlefield arts for soldiers, this was an art developed for bodyguards - it was developed inside a building, not outdoors like most koryu, designed for use in a more confined area

This is almost the opposite of Shinden Fudo Ryu which is outdoors in nature KJJ, TYR is indoors and urban KJJ

As this ryu is not battlefield based it takes it's weapon system from the Bojutsu of Kukkishinden Ryu, and the shorter sticks are used to effect in close quarters

The entire syllabus of this ryu forms the unarmed combat of Kukkishinden Ryu

Koto Ryu Koppojutsu

Koto Ryu (Tiger knocking down School)

"to knock the Tiger down with the tips of the fingers"

Koppo Jutsu

Very much like kyukushin karate this method involved linear strikes to break bones

First Rule - hit fucking hard

This ryu adopts training methods seen in Okinawa and later in Japan in kyukushin - wood breaking to perfect the bone breaking methods - striking sand and gravel, then later stone to condition the hands and other striking tools

The 10th Soke of Gyokko Ryu founded the Koto Ryu

This ryu also teaches sword, and uses the four point shaken shuriken

Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu

Shinden Fudo Ryu (Tradition of the immovable god school)

Dakentaijutsu

This closely resembles Kempo Jujutsu.
The hard striking methods are drawn from Chinese Kempo, including low line kicking.
There is also hard grappling method, chin na done like Judo.

The hand and body tool conditioning is not as fierce as Koto Ryu, but still involved hitting trees to toughen the tools, and also ripping bark to develop the "seizing" methods.

There is also the use of trees to practice the taijutsu for throws and locks

This ryu teaches oversized weapons - instead of a simple Bo a ninja would use a whole branch or log, his taijutsu allowing him the movement to weild it

this ryu also made oversized weapons - an axe, a hammer, and a sword, for use with it's taijutsu

This ryu promotes the "principle of nature", was big on training in nature (a lot of Grass Days) and natural body movement

It also uses hojojutsu - the art of using a rope in combat, a lot like a rodeo lasoo